Man, 35, dies after being ‘crushed’ inside the cabin of a cherry picker

A 35-year-old coal miner has died after suffering horrific head injuries while working near a coal mine in the state’s north west.

Police said the man was in the open cabin of a ‘cherry picker’ when he was ‘crushed’ by an overhead metal structure just before 9am this morning.

They said he was operating the machinery about 15 metres off the ground.

A NSW Ambulance spokeswoman said the man suffered head and neck injuries before going in to cardiac arrest and could not be revived.

Inspector Stuart Campbell of the Western Division told MailOnline he initially thought the worker had fallen from an elevated platform.

The Namoi Valley Independent reported he was working on the construction of a $180m piece of equipment when the incident occurred.

Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union northern districts president Peter Jordan said it was a ‘devastating loss’ considering two earlier deaths at a coal mine site at Cessnock, near Newcastle.

A Thiess spokesman said the employee was working on the construction of the Coal Handling and Preparation Plant (CH-PP) for Boggabri Coal.

He said: ‘Thiess and Sedgman extend their deepest sympathies to the employee’s family and full support is being extended to them.’

Trauma counselling is being provided to people onsite.

NSW Resources and Energy, Anthony Roberts, has called the death a ‘tragic accident’ and said prayers are with the family, friends and community affected.